Pherocon® AM Standard Traps and Their Use to Determine Spray Dates for Control of the Apple Maggot

Activity of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) was monitored with Pherocon® AM Standard traps in orchards in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario. In 1974, sprays based on capture-data resulted in one and 4 sprays in Nova Scotia, 5 and 6 in Quebec, and 2 in Ontario with excellent control except in Nova Scotia. The use of capture-data to determine spray dates resulted in fewer sprays than recommended in Ontario but not in Nova Scotia and Quebec. In 1975, sprays based on capture-data resulted in 2, 3, and 4 sprays in Nova Scotia, 2 and 4 in Quebec, and 1 in Ontario with excellent control in all orchards except one in Quebec. The use of capture-data to determine spray dates resulted in fewer sprays than recommended in 6 of 13 test orchards. Cooperative tests with growers in Nova Scotia showed that the traps were feasible for practical use to determine the need to spray and spray dates and could result in fewer sprays than are currently recommended.